Next Up: Team Canada

Yesterday, Kentucky Basketball won its first exhibition game at GLOBL Jam 2023, defeating the under-23-year-olds from Germany, 81-73. Kentucky was led in scoring by Antonio Reeves with 26 points, while Tre Mitchell made new fans in his UK debut on 4-of-6 shooting from outside with 20 points scored. DJ Wagner and Reed Sheppard shined among the freshmen with six assists apiece.

Today, the Wildcats are back at Toronto’s Mattamy Athletic Centre for their second game at the four-team international basketball showcase. This time, Kentucky plays in the nightcap against the home team, Team Canada, with a spot in Sunday’s gold medal game up for grabs.

Let’s get to know our friends from the North before tonight’s neighborly fun. Remember, it’s a midnight tape delay broadcast in the States.

Facts and History

Tonight’s meeting will be the first-ever matchup between the University of Kentucky (representing America) and the entire country of Canada, so here are fun facts about the United States and Canada instead.

— The United States and Canada share the world’s longest international border at 5,525 miles. Ask a Canadian, and they’ll tell you it’s even longer, 8,891 kilometers.

— The countries have always maintained peaceful relations, although, the War of 1812 was a contentious time when Great Britain was still in control up there. Thankfully, Canada broke free of British control, per America’s unofficial recommendation and personal testimony.

— The United States and Canada share the Great Lakes, forming the largest group of freshwater lakes as their natural borders. However, Lake Michigan is entirely American, which explains why it is the loudest of the five.

Head Coach: Nathaniel Mitchell

Nathaniel Mitchell coaches Team Canada’s U23 squad for a second straight GLOBL JAM. Mitchell is a Toronto native who was on the Toronto Raptors’ bench the last two seasons until the head coaching change this summer. Before the Raptors, Mitchell was in Charlotte with the Hornets for three seasons and stops in the G League.

Mitchell’s assistant coaches are Dave DeAveiro, Jamie McNeilly, Scott Morrison, and Kalisha Keane.

Players To Know

If anyone is going to cause Kentucky problems, it is most likely to be these guys:

Thomas Kennedy

Thomas Kennedy, a 6-foot-9 forward, played 32 minutes per game for the University of Windsor Lancers last season, his last of a prolific five-year career. In 2022-23, Kennedy ranked first in OAU (Ontario University Athletics) in rebounds (13.8 rpg), second in blocks, third in scoring (20.3 ppg), and fifth in shooting percentage (55%). He now plays professionally for the Scarborough Shooting Stars of the CEBL.

Enoch Boakye

A familiar name to John Calipari, Enoch Boakye was recruited by Kentucky out of the Class of 2021. Once a Michigan State commit, Boakye landed at Arizona State for his college basketball career in 2021-22.

A 6-10 center, Boakye played 12 minutes per game as a freshman, but his playing time declined his sophomore season. He will suit up for Fresno State this winter for his junior season. For Canada, he brings size Kentucky simply cannot match at this event.

Jahmyl Telfort

Jahmily Telfort has college experience with three years at Northeastern, where he averaged double-digit scoring all three years, before his transfer to Butler this past spring.

Go Bulldogs🐶🐶@ButlerMBB pic.twitter.com/zgC5ZgtdKu

— Jahmyl Telfort (@SmoothXJah) April 14, 2023

A 6-foot-7 guard, Telfort averaged 16.3 points per game in 2022-23, earning Third Team Colonial Athletic Association honors.

Joel Brown

Another from the NCAA, Joel Brown left behind four years at California for one graduate transfer year at Iona this upcoming season.

All Glory to God !! Happy to start this new chapter in my life 🙏🏽 Thank you to all the college Coaches that reached out to during this time frame !! pic.twitter.com/ZZQRkPzhC5

— Terrell Jr (@terrelljr2k) April 30, 2023

At Cal, Brown played 32.5 minutes per game as Mark Fox’s only point guard last year, before the team’s mass exodus upon Fox’s firing.

Marko Maletic

Marko Maletic plays his college ball at Long Island University, where the 6-foot-6 sophomore led the Sharks with 15.9 points per game and a team-high 69 made 3-pointers in 2022-23. Maletic gave James Madison 32 points last December. He hit eight 3-pointers against NCAA Tournament darling Farleigh Dickinson a month later.

Addison Patterson

Patterson hammers it home! 🔨#GLOBLJAM | @CanBball pic.twitter.com/Kq8ILGRMsP

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 13, 2023

A former Oregon Duck and member of the Nevada Wolfpack, Addison Patterson played at the JUCO level last season, at Tallahassee Community College, and will suit up for Northwestern State in the Southland Conference next year.

He is a former top-100 recruit out of the Class of 2019.

Elijah Mahi

West Valley College’s Elijah Mahi is a bucket. The 6-foot-7 wing shot 40 percent from 3 last year as a freshman, averaging a team-high 17.5 points per game. Yesterday, Mahi led Team Canada in scoring in his GLOBL Jam debut with 17 points on 13 shots.

Nana Owusu-Anane

Nana Owusu-Anane was a team captain at Brown University. He averaged 10.3 points and a team-high 8.2 rebounds per game, ranking second in the Ivy League in rebounding in 2022-23.

Full GloblJam Roster

PLAYER	POS	HT	WT	BIRTH DATE	PRE-NBA DRAFT TEAM
Enoch Boakye	FC	6-10	240	Mar 24, 2003	Arizona State
Joel Brown	PG	6-2	190	Nov 12, 2000	Iona
Thomas Kennedy	PF	6-9	220	Sep 1, 2000
Elijah Mahi	F	6-5	185	–	N/A
Marko Maletic	F	6-6	208	–	Long Island
Nana Owusu-Anane	F	6-8	220	Mar 18, 2002	Brown
Adam Paige	F	6-8	225	Feb 3, 2000
Addison Patterson	SF	6-7	200	Jun 9, 2001	Northwestern State
Aaron Rhooms	F	6-6	–	–	Scarborough Shooting Stars (Canada)
Jahmyl Telfort	SF	6-7	224	Apr 30, 2001	Butler
Kellen Tynes	PG	6-3	175	–	Maine
Aiden Warnholtz	PG	6-3	180	Feb 4, 2000

Canada defeated Basketball Africa League Select in Game 1

In Canada’s first game, the Canucks defeated Basketball Africa League Select, 88-62, in the final opening night game at GLOBL Jam. Elijah Mahi was the high-scorer with 17 points off the bench. The 6-foot-7 wing scored 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field, plus six rebounds in the most minutes played for Canada.

Power forward Thomas Kennedy was the highest-scoring starter with 15 points and five rebounds in 16 minutes played. Kennedy was bothered by foul trouble but made a huge impact when he was in.

THOMAS KENNEDY AND-1! 💪#GLOBLJAM | @CanBball pic.twitter.com/RrMYyACbUe

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 13, 2023

Enoch Boakye (11) and Addison Patterson (10) also scored in double figures, but the team as a whole struggled to make shots at a high clip. Canada shot 26 percent from 3 (6-of-23) and 63 percent from the foul line (14-of-22).

Canada out-rebounded BAL Select, 47-35.